Shein Fails to Turn the Tide: Empty Scenes at Iconic Paris Department Store Spark Discussion
After Chinese fast-fashion e-commerce giant Shein opened a physical store in Paris's iconic BHV department store late last year, six months later, social media videos and media reports point to a continuous decline in BHV's performance, with empty floors and escalators out of service. The store claims it is "under renovation."
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-hsuan, Paris, 9th) Chinese fast-fashion e-commerce giant Shein opened a physical store in Paris's iconic BHV department store late last year. Six months later, social media videos and media reports point to a continuous decline in BHV's performance, with empty floors and escalators out of service. The store claims it is "under renovation."
BHV is located in the fashionable and bustling Marais district in the heart of Paris, across the street from the City Hall. Its history dates back to 1856, making it a landmark deeply rooted in the memories of Parisians.
Libération reported that since Frédéric Merlin, president of the department store operating group SGM, took over in 2023, BHV's customer traffic has declined. Now, with no new products and many brands successively withdrawing, BHV's turnover has plummeted by 90% within a year.
The report pointed out that for several weeks, a sign at the entrance of BHV department store read "under renovation." Remaining merchandise on each floor was piled to one side to clear space for large-scale renovation work, deterring customers. Employees were worried, with one saying: "We have absolutely nothing to do... I feel useless, just watching this store decline."
Another employee said: "We are constantly asked, 'Are you going bankrupt?' I don't understand why they don't just close during construction, instead of letting people see the store in decline."
The report mentioned that BHV department store's financial situation is poor, with monthly turnover plummeting from approximately 11 million euros to around 1 million euros. Currently, two out of three elevators and half of the escalators are out of service; external contractors are unwilling to participate; cleaning companies have been on strike for several weeks; and three security companies have been changed within two years.
Last October, Merlin's decision to allow Shein to enter BHV department store sparked strong opposition in Paris. Beauty brand Aime and others successively withdrew, citizens signed petitions to protest, and Minister for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Trade Serge Papin also did not support it.
On the opening day of Shein last November, BHV department store welcomed a large crowd. Consumers had to get queue numbers and pass security checks to enter the store; at the same time, many people outside the store held placards or chanted slogans, protesting Shein's supply chain concerns regarding environmental and labor rights, and its involvement in a scandal involving the sale of child pornography dolls.
Merlin had hoped that Shein would boost the department store's performance, but some consumers felt that the in-store products were not as cheap as online prices, and the shopping crowd quickly receded.
Merlin recently posted on social media, refuting: "Throughout the weekend, 'fake influencers' uploaded videos of the empty BHV department store in the Marais. Some people were crying as if it were some Pompeii ruins. These are the same people who are receiving Amazon packages while pretending to save businesses!"
He stated that the scenes in the videos were construction sites, and the space was cleared to make changes. "Let's build properly."
Le Parisien reported with the title "Has Paris's BHV department store become a 'ghost store'?" This renovation is strategically and financially significant for the SGM group. BHV is reorganizing its retail space and negotiating with the landlord to reduce rent.
Unions revealed that the average daily turnover currently fluctuates between 25,000 and 40,000 euros. A union member said: "When it was operated by Galeries Lafayette, we could take in 1 million euros on a single Sunday." (Editor: Wei Hsu) 1150509
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-hsuan, Paris, 9th) Chinese fast-fashion e-commerce giant Shein opened a physical store in Paris's iconic BHV department store late last year. Six months later, social media videos and media reports point to a continuous decline in BHV's performance, with empty floors and escalators out of service. The store claims it is "under renovation."
BHV is located in the fashionable and bustling Marais district in the heart of Paris, across the street from the City Hall. Its history dates back to 1856, making it a landmark deeply rooted in the memories of Parisians.
Libération reported that since Frédéric Merlin, president of the department store operating group SGM, took over in 2023, BHV's customer traffic has declined. Now, with no new products and many brands successively withdrawing, BHV's turnover has plummeted by 90% within a year.
The report pointed out that for several weeks, a sign at the entrance of BHV department store read "under renovation." Remaining merchandise on each floor was piled to one side to clear space for large-scale renovation work, deterring customers. Employees were worried, with one saying: "We have absolutely nothing to do... I feel useless, just watching this store decline."
Another employee said: "We are constantly asked, 'Are you going bankrupt?' I don't understand why they don't just close during construction, instead of letting people see the store in decline."
The report mentioned that BHV department store's financial situation is poor, with monthly turnover plummeting from approximately 11 million euros to around 1 million euros. Currently, two out of three elevators and half of the escalators are out of service; external contractors are unwilling to participate; cleaning companies have been on strike for several weeks; and three security companies have been changed within two years.
Last October, Merlin's decision to allow Shein to enter BHV department store sparked strong opposition in Paris. Beauty brand Aime and others successively withdrew, citizens signed petitions to protest, and Minister for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Trade Serge Papin also did not support it.
On the opening day of Shein last November, BHV department store welcomed a large crowd. Consumers had to get queue numbers and pass security checks to enter the store; at the same time, many people outside the store held placards or chanted slogans, protesting Shein's supply chain concerns regarding environmental and labor rights, and its involvement in a scandal involving the sale of child pornography dolls.
Merlin had hoped that Shein would boost the department store's performance, but some consumers felt that the in-store products were not as cheap as online prices, and the shopping crowd quickly receded.
Merlin recently posted on social media, refuting: "Throughout the weekend, 'fake influencers' uploaded videos of the empty BHV department store in the Marais. Some people were crying as if it were some Pompeii ruins. These are the same people who are receiving Amazon packages while pretending to save businesses!"
He stated that the scenes in the videos were construction sites, and the space was cleared to make changes. "Let's build properly."
Le Parisien reported with the title "Has Paris's BHV department store become a 'ghost store'?" This renovation is strategically and financially significant for the SGM group. BHV is reorganizing its retail space and negotiating with the landlord to reduce rent.
Unions revealed that the average daily turnover currently fluctuates between 25,000 and 40,000 euros. A union member said: "When it was operated by Galeries Lafayette, we could take in 1 million euros on a single Sunday." (Editor: Wei Hsu) 1150509
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.